Working with Your Board

Effectively working with your board is more art than science. Understanding governance structures is only one piece of the puzzle. Perhaps more important is how executive directors manage relationships with nonprofit board members. This workshop is intended to help executive directors and leadership staff members develop strategies for tackling these

Articles in The Foundation Review’s upcoming issue provide in-depth thinking on some emerging innovations in foundations. This unthemed issue also includes reviews of four new resources. In one article, authors from Grand Valley State University share lessons learned from their experiences with community-indicator work. In another article, authors from the

by Regina McClinton, Ph.D., director, Intercultural Training Certificate at Grand Valley State University. Dr. McClinton teaches in the Liberal Studies Department and recently presented a session titled, A Conversation About Intercultural Competence, at the Johnson Center’s Brown Bag Lunch and Learn series. Let’s begin with the basics: Why do we

Soon to be released Volume 5, Issue 2 of The Foundation Review, features tools, results, and activities from the sector. This is an unthemed issue and many articles carry through on the collaboration theme of the Grantmakers for Effective Philanthropy co-edited issue on collaboration. Other articles offer insights into broad

The Foundation Review… Volume 6, Issue 2 Call for Papers Abstracts of up to 250 words are invited for Volume 6, Issue 2 of The Foundation Review. This issue will be an open (unthemed) issue. Papers on any topic relevant to organized philanthropy are invited for consideration. Submit abstracts to submissions@foundationreview.org by Aug. 30,

By Mark Hoffman, Ph.D., associate professor and director, School of Public, Nonprofit and Health Administration, Grand Valley State University In a previous posting, I discussed what I had learned about nonprofit education in Poland. This week I’ll discuss my experience on the other side of the world. More prosperous than

TEDxGrandRapids 2013 speakers Lucy Bernholtz and Jose Bright took time from their busy schedules to speak at the Johnson Center last week about their work. Bright was accompanied by Skot Welch, founder of Global Bridgebuilders and 2013 TEDx host and emcee. Lucy Bernholz describes herself as a philanthropy wonk. She

By Mark Hoffman, Ph.D., associate professor and director, School of Public, Nonprofit and Health Administration, Grand Valley State University At GVSU’s School of Public, Nonprofit and Health Administration, about half our 450 undergraduate and graduate students are primarily interested in careers in nonprofit management. As I discovered during my 2011-2012

By Terry Horton, senior program advisor, Philanthropic and Nonprofit Services Since 2006, it has been my privilege to consult for two of the most outstanding nonprofit capacity-building organizations in the country: The Foraker Group in Alaska, and the Johnson Center for Philanthropy in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Over these seven years,

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About Us

The Dorothy A. Johnson Center for Philanthropy at Grand Valley State University is one of the nation’s leading academic centers focused on the philanthropic field. We guide foundations, nonprofits, professionals, and donors to strengthen their work and navigate the field. With original research, tools, trainings, and more, we provide trusted guidance for doing good.